Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-15
PACIFIC COAST.
NO CLUE AS YET TO THE ARIZONA
TRAIN ROBBERS.
A Pistol Accident in Portland
Quartz Mill Burned at Calico
The Soldiers Camp.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE REooED-UNIos.l
CALIFORNIA; Loss.
Unexpected Death of Ex-United States
Senator A. A. Sargent

Unexpected Death of Ex-United States
Senator A. A. Sargent.
SAN FRANCISCO, August 14th.-[Special l-Ex-
United States Senator A. A. Sargent died to-day
at his residence 1850 Folsom street, in this city.
He had been slightly ailing for some time past.
but his death was unexpected. The Call to-mor-
row will say
OF the pioneers of California few, if any. are
better known than Aaron A. Sargent. He has
lived in the State continually for 3S years, much
OF which time has been passed in the public
service. He began his adult life as compositor
in Sacramento ION the Uhionl. He was earnest,
industrious and frugal. and in a short time
abandoned the case for theeditorial tripod. The
public generally first heard of him in Nevada
county in 1856, when Fremont was nomi-
mated by the newly formed Republican
party for President. Mr.. Sargent was then
part owner and responsible manager for
the Nevada Journal, and his interests dictated
almost any course but that of the advocacy of
the then Republican principles. Unwilling
either to stihe his own convictions of right. or
to risk the ruin of the property of which ne had
charge, he resigned his position as editor and
took the stump for the Republican ticket From
the trusted leaders of that party. He served
for period in the lower House of Congress, and
in 1872 was elected to the Senate. In that emf
nent body he held rank with the first class,
Though never reaching the position occu-
pied by few of the leaders on
either side, he was an honest, intelligent and
determined legislator. He never voted for a.
measure he did not believe in, nor was he ever
deferred from voting for one he did believe in
He was strong party man. aud never faltered
in his support of Republican measures. Hell
force OF character and ability, but was in some
respects deficient in tact He made enemies
wnom more plastic character would have con-
ciliated, and became the target of little inter
party contest, with the result that he retired
for time from public life.
Under the Arthur Administration Mr. Sargent
was urged by the body of Pacific coast Repub-
licans for the position of Secretary of the In
terror. President Arthur apparently thought
California not quite entitled to Cabinet position
but he rendered Mr.. Sargent the German mission,
which was accepted. 1t was while Mr. Sargent
was in Germany that the controversy concern
ing the exclusion of American pork arose, and
some statements which Mr.. Sargent addressed
to the Washington Government caused strained
relations between the German Chancellor and
the American Minister. Mr.. Sargent soon after
resigned and returned to the State. He has
since held no public Office. He was candidate
for the United States Senate when Mr..
Stanford was nominated, and was again
regarded as a candidate in 1886, until the
returns showed thtat Democratic Legislature
had been elected. He then announced to his
intimate friends that he should not again
seek what he regarded as a vindication from
the aspersions of the anti-Sargeht clique
in the party. AS a member of Congress and as
Senator no man was more effective in work for
the State than Mr.. Sargent. He had great ca
pacity for work, and quickly mastered the de
tails of legislation. Although native of Mas
saehusetts he was warmly attached to his
adopted State, and whether in Office or out
sought to promote its best interests useful
and honorable life has come to an abrupt end.
ing.
SENATOR sARGENT's ILLNESS.
1t was only within the past few days that SEN
ator Sargent had been forced, through illness,
to remain at home, and at no time-even up to
the hour of his death-were his symptoms
thought to be serious In fact his indisposition
had not become known outside his immediate
~AANsN
Senator Sargent's law partner, had been absent
in New York for several months past attending
to an important case, and was only recalled to
this city upon receipt of letter from his part
ner stating that he was i'll and unable to attend
to the business of the firm. Upon his arrival
here he was assured by not only the family, but
by the physician, that the Senator would re-
cover, although it would require three months
for him to regain his strength.
A PEACEFUL AND PAINLESS DEATH.
On Saturday evening he spent some three
hours at the house, every one being in cheer
full frame of mind, and when he left he did so
under the impression that Mr.. Sargent would
be fully recovered in a short time To day.
said Mr.. Stone, . received the intelligence
that my partner was dead. Hurrying to his
residence l found the news to be only too true.
The members of his family informed me that
they were in the room with the Senator and
were quietly conversing together, when upon
looking up the awful fact was revealed to them
that the husband and father was no more. He
was in bed at the time, and he died without
making the slightest sound or displaying any
indications of approaching dissolution"